"The November 3rd election was the most secure in American history."
Winter has finally arrived here in Southern California. What that means where I live at the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains is, we're finally receiving some rain, but unfortunately not much so far. Our outdoor temperature is cold but not below freezing. The mountains above us are expected to receive snow. This weather may actually persist for a week or two.
Life already seems a bit more sane with our new U.S. President in the White House coupled with the administration he is forming. We now have a President who actually believes in his oath of office, is dedicated to protecting our constitution.
Our new President expects all government appointees and employees allegiance to be to our constitution unlike the personal demands of the person he replaced who betrayed his oath and the American people. Our new President promises truth which will be refreshing after the four years of all the lies to which we were subjected from our former leader.
Lots of unfinished business remains including achieving accountability from those who violated our U.S. Constitution while falsely claiming to be patriots defending democracy. Of course, any thinking person recognizes their violent overt and covert actions demonstrated they were in fact destroying democracy. Rooting out those destructive forces attempting to take autocratic control of our government will take time requiring also that we continue to guard against any others like them in the future.
I am heart-brokenly angered that we citizens must necessarily confront home-grown terrorists on our own shores -- that we are now required to take such action to preserve our democratic republic's freedoms. Still, that is our responsibility as our forebearers cautioned: "...if you can keep it."
I like the idea describing our nation's situation expressed by the young poet, Amanda Gorman at the Presidential inauguration. Our nation is young, we are in the process of growing which includes making and learning from mistakes. We are:
"A Nation that isn't broken, simply unfinished."
Covid-19 Vaccinations
A young family member on the east coast has been engaged in administering the vaccine. She also reports recently receiving her second Pfizer injection, experienced only some slight swelling and soreness at her arm's shot site.
Vaccinations against Corvid-19 continue here in Los Angeles County but not without considerable problems for those attempting to make a required reservation. Initially the reservation website system crashed but, hopefully, will now continue to be operative.
Complicating matters has been officials reports of receiving limited vaccine but only learning from one week to the next how much they'll actually receive. Obviously, how do they plan in advance each week how many reservations can be accepted under such circumstances?
Now that it has been revealed the previous federal administration did not hold back vaccine for later release as they had said, there is concern L.A. County may not have an adequate amount to provide the second injection when it is due for some recipients. Remains to be seen if that issue will develop or how it will be addressed.
What about Pfizer shipping fewer Covid-19 vials to the U.S. after language changes on the order when "extra" serum was discovered in the vials? Some pharmacists report having difficulty extracting that "extra" amount.
I'm considering here in L.A. County that there seem to be a number of issues surrounding possible vaccine availability, distribution, coupled with the rush of people seeking the vaccination as they invite more groups of people and open an increasing number of drive-thru locations providing the injections.
One large drive-thru at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds has opened near me. Years ago my husband and I went there a couple years when they offered the annual flu shot, which proved to be a very efficient process.
I've decided to bide my time for now, deferring getting the vaccination rather than getting caught up in the current milieu of people and issues. I'm sure many individuals are much more in need of the Covid-19 protection than I am as they need to work, risk having to encounter lots of people in their business and day-to-day lives.
Maybe the next vaccine will be approved for use before long. The most recent one mentioned is from Johnson & Johnson and is one injection. The clinical trial results will be released soon which will be of interest in terms of the efficacy percentage and side effects. Of course, we do not choose the vaccine we want to take and accept whatever is being distributed at the time wherever we live.
Meanwhile, I will simply continue practicing the precautions as I have been including staying at home more than I would have in the past -- a while longer certainly, but that won't be a great inconvenience for me.
What about you?
We have always had extremists in the USA. It took the internet to allow them to amass and congregate their efforts so readily. The internet has also allowed for conspiracy theories to proliferate among those who are prone to believing them.
ReplyDeleteNew hypodermic needles have been developed to allow use of more of the vaccine to be withdrawn from the vials. It amazed me to learn that one company is making plastic vials with a micro-layer of glass on the inside surface.
Our county only takes reservations for vaccinations when vaccine has been received. For last week's supply, they started accepting reservations from those age 83 and older. Reserved slots were filled within minutes. Like you, Hunky Husband and I think that we are better positioned to wait a while than are many.
Good point about how the internet has affected the ability of even disparate extremist groups to congregate on shared issues. Should combined groups ever succeed they would likely soon violently turn on one another vying for control, keeping our nation in chaos.
DeleteI understand the necessary syringe able to extract this “extra” shot of vaccine are not readily available in many instances, unfortunately. Interesting to learn about the glass liner on the plastic vials. What does that tell us about plastic for some substances?
Sounds like following your group guidelines may be more effective than ours have become with what may be premature advancement of previously stated phases. I wonder what the reasoning was for selecting age 83 as the beginning of the age group?
So far I am on the list with a local pharmacy but have no idea how long it will take. Till then and actually after then, will continue with the same precautions. At least we have someone at the controls that actually cares.
ReplyDeleteI think i’d prefer going to my local pharmacy, too, or my doctors office rather than a drive-thru. Agree to benefit of having someone in control who cares about all of us.
DeleteDon't defer. It isn't worth the hassle of getting and waiting for the second shot. It's better to be alive.
ReplyDeleteMuch to be said for being alive, that’s for sure.
DeleteDecided to go ahead and put my name on my pharmacy’s vaccine list for whenever they finally receive some to administer.
DeleteI haven't been invited to get the vaccine yet. Apparently I should get it sometime in February. But even after getting the shot I shall still take all the usual precautions (a) because the vaccine is only about 80 per cent effective and (b) because it might still be possible to infect other people.
ReplyDeleteI will be taking my same precautions, too, after i am vaccinated for the same reasons you describe.
DeletePS: Just had my first virus vaccination. Another to follow in about ten weeks' time.
DeleteI have been advised by three different doctors that I should not take the vaccination due to my COPD. So, I continue all the precautions that I take and also build up my immunity to the best of my ability.
ReplyDeleteWhen I finally get the notice from my pharmacy they have the vaccine and which one so I can schedule an appointment, I will call my doctor to see if he thinks I should be vaccinated. Originally we were told our doctors would administer the vaccination as he usually gives the annual flu shot, but I haven't heard if that is still the plan.
DeleteI miss some aspects of socialization, but staying at home has been far from terrible. The vaccine situation here seems to get more confused every day.
ReplyDeleteI haven't experienced staying at home to be as difficult an adaptation as many seem to either.
DeleteI think your poet Amanda Gorman is right, I hope things get better. The rollout of vaccinations was always going to be a little fraught, one just has to hope for the best. Where I live I doubt I’ll get the opportunity before the summer, but we have very low levels of infection right now.
ReplyDeleteGlad your infection rates are low and hope they stay that way.
DeleteWell, for once my age has brought something good. Our county has a high number of elders even over the age of 80. They set the limit for the vaccine to those of us 87 and up and I just slipped in. Will get the follow up shot on Feb. 9th
ReplyDeleteGlad you were able to get your vaccination.
DeleteDear Joared, like you, I"m in no hurry for the vaccine because I"m retired and live a truly solitary life. However, I'm torn because a dear friend--who is like a grand-daughter to me--has stage 4 cancer and time is so fleeting and precious right now. I'd like to fly out to Idaho (from Missouri) to visit her and just to see her dear face and listen to the lilt of her voice, and I won't do that unless I've been vaccinated. We'll see. What will be, will be. That's something she and I both know as do you. Peace.
ReplyDeleteThe decisions we face as you describe can be difficult with our feeling torn between choices. I trust all will work out the best for you and your friend.
DeleteAmen to everything you said about the new US administration. More power to their elbow and I sincerely hope that they can prevail in the face of Republican pushback.
ReplyDeleteWe have plenty of vaccine problems here too although our govt is constantly congratulating itself on its success. It’s all happened to quickly, no wonder there are teething and supply problems. We oldies just need to keep away from people and stay safe as we have been doing for nearly a year now.
We do have our work cut out for us here in the U.S.A. which is going to require our active attention for years to come to preserve our democratic republic.
DeleteI was reading about some of the challenges Europeans and U.K. people are facing with the vaccines. Yes, we oldsters must just buckle down and attend to our own safety while everything gets sorted out.
I am undecided on it since I had bad results with the flu vaccine but that was years ago. I have had the one for pneumonia, etc. since and no problems. The one thing I've read is that the vaccine won't prevent someone from getting it but would just mean a light case or no symptoms, like the Congressman apparently is experiencing after he had both with enough time in between and still tested positive. The other iffy issue is how it is morphing and they are still uncertain how effective the vaccines will be against it. My daughter got it and was sick a day, ran a temperature. Her husband had no results from his. They run a veterinary clinic which is how they got it before they were old enough.
ReplyDeleteCan appreciate your hesitation about taking the vaccination. If you also took the shingles vaccination and had no problem with that one either then could be another indicator for you, but your doctor's advice might be best. Of course, what younger people experience compared to other ages and elders do could be quite different in terms of severity. Seems to be a highly individual situation how each person reacts not only to the vaccines but the coronavirus infection. Gives new meaning to life, the choices we make, being a gamble.
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